Courageous warriors from the new fines, the 4 million fines are shining in court

After a several-month investigation, the AKK had condemned 14 oil-dealing companies in Kosovo. The sentence pronounced for manipulation with oil prices was over 4m euros.

By the Kosovo Competition Authority, they said in anonymous terms for Periscope that there has not yet been made any payment for the decreed punishment. Oilmen no longer agreed on that decision, however fair and legitimate for the AKK.

The subx0). We don't have the right to pronounce, because neither does Bord. But, as far as we know no payments have been made yet, as all companies have appealed the” verdict, the AKK for Periscope said not officially.

On the other hand, Kosovo oilmen's representative Fadil Berjan has declared Periscope that there is still no ruling by the court.

There was neither a deal nor a card price. All companies are in court and the way is for the court to say its word. Whatever we say most, we damage the” process, Berryan said briefly, for Periscope.

The Kosovo Oil Association had expressed concern with the Competition Authority for the decision made against oilmen, under which no agreement between these businesses has ever occurred or the Charter price.

“The decision issued by the Competition Authority, in the Oil Association, is strongly opposed. The decision to punish administrative measures against 14 oil derivative companies, calling it an arbitrary decision. The powerful association claims that there has been no oil price deal between these operators of the sector, and that there will never be”, the association considered.

Even representatives of companies whose punitive measures have been declared have rejected the sentence.

The investigation into companies for the price of derivatives was launched in early 2019. After the investigation ended, the Competition Authority Commission has made a decision that 14 companies will be sentenced to 4m 40 thousand and 450.78 euros.

“The AKK has made final decision on oil derivative prices. The investigation was launched in 2019, where allegations were launched that operators had not acted as in 2018. The suspicion has been raised that we do not have to deal with competitive conduct or any prohibited agreement on this area. Companies that have been in the investigation have upset competition in the market, they have committed violations of competition provisions. The Authority Commission has imposed a fine of 4 million and 400 thousand for 40 companies under investigation”, the AKK's decision said.

The AKK had said companies could pay the fines through the tranche for these inflows to be collected into the Kosovo state budget.

The authority had ordered companies in the procedure to prevent any further action, which has to do with setting prices co-ordinatedly, through any agreement or other informal co-operation (uncountable), which goes to the expense of consumers, as well as any business activity that disrupts competition in the respective market.

The company that was convicted of the highest fine was “HIB Petrol”, worth 1m 108 thousand euros.

The Authority's mission is to develop activities in creating conditions for markets to offer more benefits to consumers, businesses and society as a whole, protecting competition in the market and promoting a culture of competition in Kosovo. Competition policy is a necessary element of a free market, which functions by ensuring that all companies compete equally and fairly on the basis of their merits.

This is reflected also with the stated purpose of protecting competition, relying on three main pillars that determine the protection of competition: Abuse in dominant position; Forbidden agreements in the form of cartels and the Union or the concentrations of companies./ P ERISCOPI/